Destination Bedford

Goose Creek Studio Offers Underground Railroad Exhibit in Gallery and Online
2020-07-24 09:30 - 17:30, 2020-07-25 09:30 - 17:30, 2020-07-30 09:30 - 17:30, 2020-07-31 09:30 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | Goose Creek Studio Gallery, 302 Court Street, Bedford, VA, United States
The exhibit “Signs and Shibboleths” was inspired by the book “Hidden in Plain View – A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad” by Jacqueline L. Tobin and Raymond C. Dobard, PhD. This book chronicles Tobin and Dobard’s quest to understand how quilts may have been used to assist people fleeing slavery. As importantly, the authors connect this coded narrative to the African artistic traditions they brought with them to America.
This research took hold when Tobin was befriended by an African-American quilter in a market in Charleston, SC, Mrs. Ozella McDaniel Williams. After several visits, Ozella told her to “write this down” and entrusted Tobin with the long-guarded mnemonic that was used to explain and remember the quilt code.
“The monkey wrench turns the wagon wheel toward Canada on a bear’s paw trail to the crossroads. Once they got to the crossroads, they dug a log cabin on the ground. Shoofly told them to dress up in cotton and satin bow ties and go to the cathedral church, get married and exchange double wedding rings. Flying geese stay on the drunkard’s path and follow the stars.”
The underlined words represent the patterns thought to have been used as a signal or instruction for those headed North on the Underground Railroad.
“When the exhibit “Signs and Shibboleth” was imagined, created and finally put on display, none of us imagined how the world would shift or the pace of that change,” says Janet Chalker, mosaic artist and guest curator of the exhibit. “We had become resigned to the reality that in the midst of a pandemic, the show was going to be mostly unseen, not unlike the story of the quilt patterns it tries to tell. Then George Floyd was killed and what had been simmering below the surface and unrecognized or ignored in our corporate life was tragically and repeatedly laid bare. So, we offer this as part of the conversation that has been reinvigorated.”
A group of local artists and artisans, working in a variety of media, have come together to embody this story of audacity and ingenuity. Each of the artist’s work hints at the possible meaning of the block pattern, while also giving testament to the courage, intellect and resourcefulness of those who left and those who stayed to help. It is also intentional that this project has been done by a community of creative folks – since it took a community to reach freedom. The artists and artisans featured are Allyson Turner, Dotti Stone, Caroline Renard, Patty Malanga, Nancy Laurent, Shelley Koopmann, Sharon Kessler, Dick Hendrix, Revelle Hamilton, Donna Gallucci, Patrick Ellis, Pat Dougherty, Janet Chalker, Mitchell Bond, Linda Black, and Des Black.
While this exhibit highlights a particular journey at a particular time in American history, the story of being displaced, forgotten, abused, enslaved or simply lost, is a common, ageless human story. The path toward freedom is a universal human quest taken both alone and together.
Signs and Shibboleths will be on view at Goose Creek Studio through July 31 and may be viewed online at www.goosecreekstudio.com/blog.
Goose Creek Studio Gallery and Custom Framing, located 302 Court Street in Bedford, VA, is currently open Monday-Wednesday by appointment and Thursday-Saturday 9:30 am-5:30 pm. For more information contact Goose Creek Studio at 540-586-8482 or Janet Chalker at 434-316-5475

Drifter's Friday Special
2020-07-24 16:00 - 18:00, 2020-07-31 16:00 - 18:00, 2020-08-07 16:00 - 18:00 | Drifter’s, 1617 Crystal Shores Drive, Moneta, VA, 24121
Ain’t no thang but a 1/2 price bucket of chicken wings… at Drifter’s every Friday 4pm-6pm!

Bedford Farmer Managed Market
2020-07-25 07:00 - 13:00, 2020-08-01 07:00 - 13:00, 2020-08-08 07:00 - 13:00 | Bedford Farmer Managed Market, 1032 Triggs Road, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
Our mission is to establish and operate a community-supported Producer Only Farmers Market, managed by Farmers, that provides: Viable economic outlets for Bedford County farmers, food producers, artists and craftsmen, and local access to farm fresh products.
Open on Saturdays, 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Weather permitting)

Forest Farmers Market
2020-07-25 08:00 - 12:00, 2020-08-01 08:00 - 12:00, 2020-08-08 08:00 - 12:00 | Forest Farmers Market, 15583 Forest Road, Forest, VA, 24523, United States
Virginia Grown Produce, meats, honey, flowers along with breads for locals to enjoy. The market is open the last week in April until the last week in Oct. Please come and enjoy the local food from our area.

Drifter's Saturday Special
2020-07-25 11:00 - 13:00, 2020-08-01 11:00 - 13:00, 2020-08-08 11:00 - 13:00 | Drifter’s, 1617 Crystal Shores Drive, Moneta, VA, 24121
You know you want ’em so come and get ’em… Buy 2, Get 1 Free Crab Leg Clusters every Saturday from 11-1pm!

Drifter's Sunday Special
2020-07-26 11:00 - 15:00, 2020-08-02 11:00 - 15:00 | Drifter’s, 1617 Crystal Shores Drive, Moneta, VA, 24121
Never miss a Sunday Funday at Drifter’s with 50¢ Peel ‘N Eat Shrimp! Try the house-made cocktail sauce for the perfect bite. From 11am until they run out!

Virtual Book Club: D-Day Girls
2020-07-28 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Live by the National D-Day Memorial
Join the National D-Day Memorial for a discussion of the book D-Day Girls: The Spies Who Armed the Resistance, Sabotaged the Nazis, and Helped Win World War II by Sarah Rose.
Free program, however registration is required and limited to the first 100 registrants.
Support the Memorial and purchase your book through the National D-Day Memorial’s Online Gift Shop. If you purchase both D-Day Girls and The First Wave in the same order, shipping is free! Visit www.dday.org/shop to purchase.
Funding for this event has been provided by Virginia Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act economic stabilization plan of 2020. For more information, please visit www.VirginiaHumanities.org

Drifter's Wednesday Special
2020-07-29 16:00 - 18:00, 2020-08-05 16:00 - 18:00 | Drifter’s, 1617 Crystal Shores Drive, Moneta, VA, 24121
Enjoy the Wednesday Happy Hour special! Your choice of Ahi Tuna Tacos, Chocolate BBQ Tacos or Shrimp Tacos 1/2 priced from 4pm-6pm.

Drifter's Thursday Specials
2020-07-30 16:00 - 18:00, 2020-08-06 16:00 - 18:00 | Drifter’s, 1617 Crystal Shores Drive, Moneta, VA, 24121
Thursdays are about to be your favorite day of the week! From 4-6 pm pay 1/2 price for USDA prime burgers!

Tate Tuck Live at Drifter's
2020-07-31 18:00 - 21:00, 2020-08-07 18:00 - 21:00 | VA
Enjoy live music on the waterfront at Drifter’s with Tate Tuck as he brings a mix of genres like bluegrass, folk, blues, country, rock, r&b, and even a little rap!

National Disc Golf Day
2020-08-01 09:00 - 15:00 | Bedford Trails
Stay tuned…more information to come!

Saturday Story Time
2020-08-01 11:00 - 12:00 | Bedford Public Library, 305 North Bridge Street, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
Saturday Story Time @ Bedford Central Library
Join us on the 1st Saturday of every month at 11:00 AM (unless the library is closed) for a new program filled with fun stories, songs, crafts and more! For children ages 0-5.

DDT's Live at Drifter's
2020-08-02 14:00 - 18:00 | Drifter’s, 1617 Crystal Shores Drive, Moneta, VA, 24121
Live music on the waterfront at Drifter’s!

Virginia Dare Taco Cruise
2020-08-04 18:30 - 20:30 | Virginia Dare, 3619 Airport Road, Moneta, VA, 24523, United States
Come enjoy tacos and margaritas on the Virginia Dare! Reservations must be made in advance. Call us at 540-297-7100 or click here: https://rb.gy/6lxa11

KEEPin' Up with J Bohn by Stella & Dot
2020-08-08 13:00 - 16:00 | Drifter’s, 1617 Crystal Shores Drive, Moneta, VA, 24121
Come out and browse J Bohn’s women’s jewelry collection, clothing line, and other accessories waterfront at Drifter’s.
J Bohn is a native to Smith Mountain Lake, VA. She offers a personal design + gifting service through her women’s clothing and accessories brand KEEPin’ Up with J Bohn by Stella & Dot.
In addition to running her own business, she is a Lifestyle Blogger, Social Media Partner, Smith Mountain Lake Ambassador, and volunteer. She enjoys life at the lake, traveling, food, fitness, fashion, and living & loving like Jesus.
